Tuesday, 13 March 2012

David Coburn, a UKIP candidate for the London Assembly, wrote an article in Pink News "defending" UKIP's anti-marriage equality stance. It amused me greatly, so I thought I'd break it down for you all.

"The same-sex marriage debate is not an old-fashioned left-right political issue. It’s about freedom. The definition of parties as right or left is increasingly out of date. Parties these days are more accurately described as authoritarian or libertarian."

I'd agree that the same-sex marriage debate is about freedom. And I agree there's a scale upon which you can judge a party's libertarian or authoritarian leanings.

"If you are looking for an authoritarian party you need look no further than the Liberal Democrats or Labour and to a slightly lesser extent, but not much, the Tories."

This is a totally simplistic take on the concept of authoritarianism. There's a scale, and it's different for different issues. No one, except maybe my beloved Dr. Paul, can be 100% libertarian. Human beings, and their organisations, don't work that way.

"The Tories over the last few years have raced to catch up with Labour’s authoritarian politically correct agenda. Under Cameron, they fully adopted it and in some ways exceeded it in an unprincipled race to grab votes. In the same way, unprincipled Cameron in opposition matched Brown’s catastrophic squandering of taxpayers’ money pound for pound until the markets and Banks collapsed and he suddenly had to change tack."

SIREN! If only someone could write one right wing article where "political correctness" was not mentioned. I struggle to continue reading articles after that old-chestnut rears it's ugly head. Political correctness in about 80% of cases it's applied to actually equals good manners. Now if you don't like being forced into good manners, that's a different thing but call it what it is!

"The authoritarian Lib-Lab-Con parties want to regulate everything you do and even what you think through their chosen instruments of ‘elf ‘n safety, Security mate!, political correctness and Equality Fascism."

'“Don’t smoke that… Don’t drink… Eat your five portions of greens… You can’t say that… You can’t think that… Do what we say but not what we do… Smile for the security cameras… ”'

BLUE ALERT! Somebody change the light bulbs, not only is health and safety mentioned but it's unironically chavved up as 'elf 'n safety. I agree regulations are over the top, but seriously if health and safety regulations are your concern in a country where people still get locked up without charge then you're not paying attention.

"The Lib-Lab-Cons have created a grotesque, maximum security, Kafkaesque society where everything including speech and thought are regulated in the name of security and equality. You can stab old ladies or promising teenagers and do three months, but woe betide if you transgress the language and thought police.
The country is sick and tired of being told what to do and think."

I'm interested in where this is going... I suspect we're about to see a lot of hypocrisy on the "being told what to do" part any moment now. Again, I sort of agree that some of the laws in this country regarding things such as hate speech are destroying our liberty and I've said so plenty of times before on this blog.

"UKIP is a profoundly libertarian party dedicated to small government, low taxes, live and let live, free speech and thought and above all toleration of the rights and differences of others."

I suspect this article is about to prove this wrong.

"UKIP thoroughly supports equal rights for same sex civil partnerships and equal treatment financially as married couples. As a matter of fact we support the same allowances for gay partners with children as married couples with children."

"If the government does legislate in this way UKIP believes that any criticism of same sex marriage which may be expressed by someone on the basis of their faith could be classified as a “hate crime”. That would be a grotesque assault on peoples’ freedom of conscience. As we all know these things tend to be the thin end of the wedge once the government’s ludicrous overpaid /over-pensioned thought police get on the job."

What a load of garbage. A slippery slope argument based on nothing more than belief! UKIP haven't even waited for the consultation to begin before going all swivverly-eyed whilst MAKING THINGS UP.

Absolutely we should be vigilant about protecting the rights of the religious and the not-very-nice folks to dislike and criticise marriage equality all they want. But that's not a reason to not support marriage equality, it's a reason to ensure it's done properly!

"I have always fought for equal treatment and I believe civil partnerships have achieved that. However I think it does the gay community no good whatever to cross the street and pick a fight with people of faith."

Does UKIP know this consultation is about civil marriage, and that any talk of religious marriage equality is done because currently the Government refuses to recognise same-sex marriages carried out by religious organisations? Talk about being told what to do. Religious marriage equality isn't just about equality. It's about religious freedom! Not all people of faith believe the same thing, and UKIP lie to themselves if they believe differently. Hardly an individualistic view of the subject. There are plenty of libertarian arguments against the institution of Government sponsored marriage, and I wholeheartedly agree with them. Hell, they are my ultimate goal! Sadly UKIP haven't advanced ANY SORT of a libertarian argument here.

"We have for so long been persecuted ourselves that it seems like performing an unnecessary victory roll over a defeated enemy to demand that our perfectly satisfactory arrangements should be called “marriage”.

This shows a lack of toleration towards others who look on marriage as a holy sacrament between man and woman."

Tolerance is not a libertarian concept. One does not tolerate another's freedom. It's something that is theirs regardless of if you like it or not. I do not tolerate another's belief in a diety, that belief is their inate right as a human being.

"Cameron is using the gay community to make himself look hip with the voters without thinking through the ramifications."

Yeah, we can see how well that's going down.

"By the way, 20 per cent of UKIP’s list candidates in the London Assembly Elections are openly gay. Commentators on PinkNews.co.uk have asked if I was a “real” gay. I await my invitation to come up for a cup of coffee!"

Oh you're gay. Being gay does not excuse such a poor (authoritarian!) argument.

If you feel benevolent and particularly generous, this writer always appreciates things bought for him from his wishlist